View source for Magderu

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name              = Magderu
| image             = Dharashnvel Temple (Magderu), North side.jpg
| caption           = The temple from east. Entrance in the north is visible.
| map_type          = India Gujarat
| map_caption       = Location in Gujarat
| coordinates       = {{coord|22.289094|N|69.051486|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location          = Dhrasanvel village near [[Dwarka]], [[Devbhoomi Dwarka district]], [[Gujarat]]
| locale            =
| elevation_m       =
| deity             = Probably [[Surya]] or [[Shiva]]
| festivals         =
| architecture      = [[Maitraka]] (Early [[Nagara architecture|Nagara]])
| temple_quantity   = 7
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions      =
| year_completed    = Middle of the 8th century
}}
'''Magderu''' is an 8th-century temple of [[Maitraka]] period located near Dhrasanvel village in Okhamandal Taluka of [[Devbhoomi Dwarka district]], [[Gujarat]], India. The temple is located three miles northeast of [[Dwarka]].
==Architecture==
[[File:Magderu temple plan.png|thumb|Plan of Magderu|center]]
The temple belongs to early [[Nagara architecture|Nagara]] style temples with single spire with lattice work (''sajala'') in it. The rectangular, north-facing temple is ''saptayatana'' (seven shrine) type with one central large shrine surrounded by six smaller shrines. It is on low platform ([[Jagati (temple)|''jagati'']]). This temple with multiple shrines may be modification of either ''panchayatana'' (five shrine) type with addition of shrines in east and south of the central shrine or ''ashtayatana'' (eight shrine) type with replacement of eighth shrine with the flight of the steps to access the temple from north. The ''jagati'' is buttressed on north and south. The enclosing wall which once connects the shrines.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969">{{cite journal | last=Nanavati | first=J. M. | last2=Dhaky | first2=M. A. | title=The Maitraka and the Saindhava Temples of Gujarat| journal=Artibus Asiae. Supplementum | volume=26 | pages=3–83 | year=1969 | doi=10.2307/1522666 | jstor=1522666 }}</ref>
The central shrine has ''[[pancharatha]]'' (five-fold) plan. It is the earliest known five-fold planned temple in the region. It has old style ''vedibandha'' (the lowest [[Socle (architecture)|socle]] or foundation block) and almost plain ''mandovara'' (middle of the outer wall of shrine). The ''[[shikhara]]'' (spire) and ''[[sukhasana]]'' (assembly seats) are also in ruins. The ''[[mandapa]]'' (roof above the assembly hall) is now restored with its ''Bhadraka'' style pillars with their lintels are still surviving.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/>
The temple once housed [[Saptamatrika]]s. The ''pithika'' of it is still there. The doorway is plain and without any ornamentation. The eastern shrine was probably for [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]].<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/>
{{multiple image
| align = center
| image1 = Dharashnvel Temple (Magderu), Main entrance.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Northern entrance
| image2 = Dharashnvel Temple (Magderu), Compound.jpg
| width2 = 150
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Temple from distance. The ruined spire is seen.
| image3 = Dharashnvel Temple (Magderu), Inside View.jpg
| width3 = 150
| alt3 =
| caption3 = Inside. ''Bhadraka'' stype pillars and plain doorway is visible.
| footer =
}}
==History==
[[Madhusudan Dhaky|M. A. Dhaky]] and J. M. Nanavati opines that "Maga" in the name of the temple suggests that it may be connected to [[Aboti Brahmin|Aboti Maga Brahmins]] who were worshippers of [[Surya]] (solar deity) and immigrants from [[Iran]] to western India. So the temple may have been the Sun temple. It may have been the [[Shiva]] temple as well.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/> The temple is currently belongs to Shiva.
The spire of the temple has more elaborate lattice work than the [[Sutrapada]] temple and less elaborate work than the [[Roda Group of Temples|Roda temples]]. As Roda temples are placed in the last quarter of the eighth century, so this temple is placed in the middle of the eighth century by Dhaky and Nanavati. So the temple was constructed during the [[Maitraka]] period.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/>
The site is inscribed as the Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-129) and is maintained by Vadodara Circle of [[Archeological Survey of India]].<ref name="Vadodara Circle 2017">{{cite web | title=Group of Temples | website=Vadodara Circle | date=31 March 2017 | url=http://www.asivadodaracircle.in/sites/monuments/group-of-temples | accessdate=8 May 2017}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat}}
[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:8th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Devbhoomi Dwarka district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Gujarat]]
[[Category:8th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Gujarat]]